Castlefarm Shop Newsletter
29-Sep-2007
Castlefarm Shop Newsletter October
Childrens Morning at Castlefarm
The men’s cookery demo at Castlefarm went really well and we are already planning our next event, this time especially for children. Castlefarm’s children’s morning will take place in the Castlefarm yard on Saturday 13th of October from 10am-1pm. Our aim is to introduce children to our farm, the food produced here and some of the animals who live on the farm. There will be no charge but places will need to be booked in advance. Adults must accompany children and warm clothing will be essential as this will be an outdoor event.
Parents and children interested in attending are advised to book in advance to secure a place. They can do this by emailing jenny@castlefarmshop.ie or phoning 059-8636948.
Gold for Gubbeen and Bronze for Carlow - Congratulations to our suppliers!
Gubbeen Chorizo wins gold at Great Taste Awards 07
Following Fingal Ferguson’s 2006 Gold win for his Gubbeen Salami his West Cork Chorizo has won Gold in this years Great Taste Awards.
Carlow Edam wins bronze in Shop International Cheese Awards.
Elizabeth Bradley of Carlow Cheese has won a bronze in the Shop International Cheese Awards. Her Edam cheese won the bronze in the children’s category. The children themselves judged this category. According to Elizabeth, “Milk is wonderful and nutritionally one of the most complete foods. I am thrilled that these children have decided to give Carlow Edam a bronze medal”.
Main crop potatoes in stock
John O’Brien’s (pictured below) Athy grown records are now in stock. Johns early British Queens were very appreciated over the summer and his records are fairly wonderful too. Store them in a dark cool area and they will last weeks if not months.
New products on the shelves
This month we have so many new tasty Irish products on our shelves. Coolfinn Organic Farm has started supplying us with fresh goats milk (Oct 3rd on). This goat’s milk is produced in Waterford. Clodagh Byrne’s (Athy) home baking has also been added to our shelves. Her pavalova bases and chocolate/toffee crispie bars are going down a treat. Louise O’Hare/s range of What’s Cooking soups have arrived to warm us up on the chillier autumn days. Also Jane Russell’s new beef and Guinness sausages are becoming a staple Friday supper for many customers. Also to remind you all that if you would like me to order a certain cut of beef or lamb from Peter Byrne I can do this and keep it in the cold room for you so that you can collect it at a time convenient to you.
Organic Turkey Orders being taken for Christmas
Sorry to spring this on you all so early but Margaret McDonnell has asked for me to start taking orders for her organic turkeys. These organic turkeys will be fattened to order and the majority will weigh in at 12-16lbs oven ready. I will have a price in the next week. Anyone wanting to make this first big Christmas decision please just email or talk to us in the shop!
On the farm and in the garden
At last our polytunnel has arrived and an area east of our organic orchard has been plotted out for it. This will mean a longer growing season next year for Castlefarm Vegetables. On Monday 1st October our new pullets arrived and they are settling into our new hen house. So this means that by mid October the egg shortage should be long forgotten! Otherwise on the farm grass growth has slowed down and we have started feeding triticale to the cows, this is fed to them in the parlour during milking. This is also why they are so eager to push into the parlour!
New employee!
This month our neighbour Jake Burgess started a Saturday morning job at the shop.
Products of the month
Angela Slatterys breads and heather honey. Angela’s homemade brown soda bread (available Wed-Sat) and white seed bread (Saturdays only) smothered with butter and heather honey…need I say more.
I suppose the other product I should mention is cooking apples. Stewed with brown sugar and cinnamon, made into apple cake or tarte tatin (recipe below).
Recipe of the month
Tarte tatin
Peel and slice some apples, then fry them in butter and brown sugar until they soften a little (sometimes adding cinnamon). I make pastry (2:1 flour to margarine, an egg and a little cold water to mix). Then I grease a deep dish, roll out the pastry and line the dish with pastry. Then spoon the apples and juice onto the pastry. Bake in a moderate oven for approx 30 minutes. As I said this is my easy version and I am sure you can find lots of more interesting versions in cookbooks
CASTLEFARM DIARY
- Saturday 13th October 10am-1pm Childrens morning at Castlefarm
- Thursday 22nd November Christmas Cookery with Louise O Hare of Whats Cooking
- Thursday 29th November Christmas Market 3pm-8pm at Castlefarm – Local crafts, hampers and goodies for sale. To include free mulled wine, mince pies, Christmas lights and music
- Thursday 6th December Christmas Cookery with Louise O Hare of Whats Cooking
Opening hours Wednesday – Saturday 10am-6pm
To receive our newsletter and news of new products on line please email Jenny
For further information contact Castlefarm Shop, Narraghmore, Athy, Co Kildare, Telephone 059-8636948, jenny@castlefarmshop.ie, www.castlefarmshop.ie